January 7, 2009

New CFS Extension Web site aimed at helping consumers, families

The site, https://www.cfs.purdue.edu/extension, also includes sections on children and families, food and health, and news and events.

With the economy in recession, the site's home and money section could be particularly helpful, said Elizabeth Kiss, a family resource management specialist who helped put that section together.

"We're focusing on three things: meeting day-to-day needs, achieving long-term goals, and avoiding financial fraud and scams," Kiss said.

"We're taking information that we've had and making it more useable for families. We also have materials such as worksheets that people can print off and use. It also has links to our partners, such as the National Endowment for Financial Education, the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and MoneySmart Week Indiana."

The home and money section now also includes information about how to deal with the current economic crisis, called Financial Looking Glass, and tips on how to manage spending.

Karen Zotz, assistant dean for engagement in Consumer and Family Sciences and assistant director for CFS Extension, said there are two goals for the site.

"One is we want the people of Indiana to recognize Purdue University as the go-to place for information in consumer and family sciences, whether it is for financial information, such as how to control spending over the holidays, nutrition issues, such as obesity, or family and children's issues," Zotz said.

"Also, as a land-grant institution we're responsible for taking research we've done and presenting it in a useful, informative way to the people of the state. We are trying to reach new audiences with information. In the old model, people came to us. Today's audiences don't have the time to come to us or to meetings unless there's a crisis. One of the ways to get information to the public is a good Web site."

The site includes a calendar page that will list upcoming programs and events in Consumer and Family Sciences. There also will be a map of all county Extension sites, with links to each county site, on the page.

Zotz said the site will be updated regularly and may eventually be expanded to include an area that will allow individuals to access programs with a password. After filling out assessments or other criteria, they could then complete the programs on their own time.

Writer: Greg McClure, (765) 494-9394, gmcclure@purdue.edu

Sources: Elizabeth Kiss, (765) 494-8299, kissed@purdue.edu

Karen Zotz, (765) 494-8252, kzotz@purdue.edu

Tammy Weaver-Stoike, (765) 494-3716, weaverst@purdue.edu  

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page